Shawn Powers, associate editor of Linux Journal, delivered the morning keynote speech at the 2009 Ohio Linuxfest. Powers stressed the need for the Linux and open source community not to bash proprietary products, but to showcase the strengths of open source software and improve it so that it's simply the best choice for people and businesses. He also urged educators in the audience to teach concepts, such as word processing and image editing, instead of specific programs such as Microsoft® Word⢠and Adobe® Photoshopâ¢. One of the things which is a double-edge sword for Linux distributions, says Powers, is the variety of software doing the same thing. The variety provides choice, but the names can confuse the user, who wants things such as a Web Browser, Email Client, and Chat Client, not caring about the name or community behind it. When they deviate from their default applications, it's important to let people make stupid decisions. Freedom is the freedom of choice, including the freedom to make the *wrong* choice. He advised those who are attempting to sell Linux, or, really, the *idea* of Linux, to be forthcoming about the shortcomings of Linux while also explaining the advantages, because "if you tell them everything which is bad, they can only discover the good."


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